Fengxian, Fengxian District, China
Named Fengxian Qixian Jesus Church, Wutopia Lab’s latest project is a 2,598-square-meter is wrapped by a translucent structure, aiming to create a visual boundary around the architectural control line and maintain a sense of symmetry within the building.
The architect has adjusted the center lines of the main building so that they are parallel but not on the center line of the base.
The center lines of the auditorium parallel to each other but not according to the center line of the main building.
This new layout not only avoids the rigidity of conventional symmetric but also opens up possibilities for some lively vitality while maintaining the sanctity of symmetry in areas in need.
Another advantage of this is that the first floor of the auditorium can face directly south.
When the weather is nice, the main hall can be opened up completely southward so that the outdoor field can be used as an extension of the auditorium site.
This is also a result of my attempt to bring the outside into the auditorium.
The translucent “veil” is one of the means by which the designers try to express the obscure light of Jiangnan through architecture.
It can express shadows on the visual interface which change with daylight and the shadows can either be projections or transmissions of natural or man-made elements.
It can also create filtered sunlight in this field enclosed by the visual interface, not so hot, but somewhat uncertain just like the weather in Jiangnan, in which you are.
More importantly, it signifies the field within the interface as a complete place, going inside is entering a new territory.
The initial design has been changed many times during the construction process.
Expanded mesh panels were used instead of perforated aluminum or solar panels for the “veil” because it is cheaper and reduces wind resistance better.
To ensure the strength and safety of the “veil”, the architects have decided to enlarge the cross-section of the supporting columns of the “veil” while adding diagonal struts to the columns at intervals.
In order to avoid additional plan approvals and cost increases due to overruns, they also agreed to add columns on both sides of the main auditorium to avoid large single-span space and the addition of two large beams across the curved ceiling which would interrupt the transverse skylight.
Project: Fengxian Qixian Jesus Church
Architects: Wutopia Lab
Lead Architect: Yu Ting
Project Manager: Dai Xinyang
Interior Designer: Chen Zhengyuan
Client: Shanghai Fengxian new city construction and Development Co., Ltd
Photographers: CreatAR Images
